Salamander Days
Salamander Days in Banská Štiavnica celebrate the former fame of Slovakia's most beautiful mining town, commemorating over 800 years since it was first mentioned. This is also why, due to its unique symbiosis of architecture, environment, and technical landscape, Banská Štiavnica and its surroundings have been listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1993. Salamander Days has become one of the famous festivals in Slovakia.
Salamander Days is held annually on the first or second weekend of September and lasts from Friday to Saturday. The Days, which began as part of the student rituals of the Mining and Forestry Academy in Banská Štiavnica and later became the Day of Miners, are concluded by a carnival procession.
Banská Štiavnica became a significant center of academic life after the founding of the Mining Academy in 1762, with a rich and vibrant student and social life. The Salamander Days Parade has been preserved as a symbol of historical continuity up to the present day. According to legend, the city's name is derived from the winding motion of the salamander (amphibian), which brought glory to the city. The first Salamander Parade took place in 1934, with the introduction of Miners' Day, and has been organized ever since. The traditional market known as Štiavnické trhy is an inseparable part of the event, with a diverse cultural program, exhibitions, and spectacles. It has been held on an annual basis since 1992. The Salamander Parade was inscribed on Slovakia's National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2013.
Are more than just a carnival for Štiavnica miners; over time, this has evolved into a gathering place for miners, ironworkers, geologists, and oilmen from all over Slovakia. Mining experts consider the Salamander Days to be a Slovakia-wide event that draws on the rich history of university education in Banská Štiavnica as well as the diverse habits of former Mining and Forestry Academy students, who are the original authors of the Salamander Procession.
Salamander Days attract not only visitors from all over Slovakia, but also admirers and repeat visitors from abroad, due to their uniqueness. During this carnival, university students and teachers from various Hungarian towns enjoy returning to Banská Štiavnica, as this is where the roots of their current mining universities can be found. Friday is the highlight of Salamander Days, with the unique Salamander Procession being the carnival's main event.
It is led by the chief shepherd, who holds a wooden lizard in his hand, representing a story about the mines' origins. The chief shepherd is followed by bergmans (miners' dwarfs), miners in historical uniforms holding flags of specific mines, mining music, and symbolical characters (Death, Rabbi, Executioner, Judges). The procession begins after dusk to highlight the light of candles and burners.
Takes place: the first or second weekend of September
